My first visit to Rwanda was in 2019. Since early 2016, I had volunteered as Sponsorship Head for the Batsinda project, and it was so rewarding to finally witness first-hand the incredible work being carried out across the various street kids’ projects. While in Kigali, our team was invited to view a plot of land earmarked for a new exciting project: the Comfort Transformation Centre (CTC). At the time, it was only a vision, but hearing the early plans for the centre was exciting.
Fast forward to 2024, and on my return to Rwanda, I saw that vision beginning to take shape. The building of the CTC was well underway. Standing on the first floor of the structure, we listened to David Gasana share his powerful vision for what the centre would become. Our team spent two days labouring on-site— I’m not sure how much difference we actually made to the progress of the building work, but we all worked very hard, and it felt very fulfilling!
One of the loveliest things on those days was being joined by many of the older children from the street kids’ projects – young people who had once needed help themselves, now helping to build a centre that would transform the lives of children just like them. It was so poignant and moving.
The CTC is Comfort International’s largest and most ambitious undertaking to date. Significant funding is urgently needed to continue construction at a pace that will allow the first intake of children by 2027. After my visit last summer, I really wanted to play a part in making this dream a reality. But what could I do? How could I make a difference?
The answer came unexpectedly in early January, from my best friend, Dawn. She asked if I’d be interested in walking the West Highland Way in May, with our mutual friend, Tracey. My instinctive reaction? “Most definitely not!” But with the new year came a desire to exercise more and get fitter, and I saw an opportunity to raise funds for the CTC. So—perhaps a little impulsively—I said, “Okay, I’ll do it!”
For those unfamiliar, the West Highland Way is a beautiful 96-mile hiking route stretching from Milngavie near Glasgow to Fort William in the Scottish Highlands. It passes through a variety of stunning landscapes—Loch Lomond, Rannoch Moor, Glencoe—culminating at the foot of Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain.
To say this was a big deal for me would be an understatement! Friends were surprised—some were even worried for me. I was a bit anxious too, but also determined and excited for the challenge ahead.
My ‘training’ began in February – I set a goal to walk 80,000 steps per week and climb a hill each weekend. I stuck to this and, to my surprise, really enjoyed it. By the time May arrived, I’d walked countless miles, built up stamina, broken in my new boots, and felt much more prepared for the adventure ahead!
The Journey Begins
Day one provided us with wall-to-wall sunshine and a gentle 13-mile walk—an ideal start. Spirits were high as we arrived in Drymen. But from day two, things got real. Rain showers began, and the midgies descended. The terrain around Loch Lomond was tough and draining, although we were blessed with stunning views from the top of Conic Hill. On day four the rain forgot to stop – the paths became streams, and we had the disappointing realisation that our waterproofs weren’t actually waterproof after all!
But nature had its way of rewarding us. Day five brought sunshine and rainbows over Rannoch Moor. And the view from the top of the Devil’s Staircase on day 6 was breathtaking – we were blessed with sunshine while we sat for a while just appreciating the beauty of Scotland. Day seven, our final stretch, brought torrential rain and wind, the likes of which I had never seen—but as we descended into Fort William, the sun broke through once more, and our weary legs made it to the finish line.
Our favourite day? Day five—Tyndrum to Kingshouse, Glencoe. It was our longest day at 19 miles, but also our most enjoyable. We were joined for parts of the walk by Chris Hoskins, Comfort International’s creative manager, who took photos and videos, and even captured some amazing drone footage between rain showers. His company and chat made the miles fly by.
Throughout the week, we met inspiring people from all walks of life—fellow walkers from all around the world, each with their own story, their own reason for taking on the West Highland Way. Along the way, we were also greeted by an endless stream of gorgeous dogs—providing moments of joy and distraction just when we needed them most. We were frequently overtaken by the real adventurers—the crazy people who were running or cycling the full 96 miles, often in just a few days!
Despite the physical challenge, we found ways to keep our spirits high. We ate well, we laughed a LOT, sharing silly stories that got funnier with every mile. There was singing too and even a bit of dancing (on the less painful days!)
But it was hard getting up each morning, knowing we had miles ahead of us and aching muscles and blisters to contend with, but the shared purpose, the companionship and the encouragement from friends and supporters kept us going. It wasn’t just a physical journey—it was emotional, meaningful, and so memorable.
The Power of Purpose
Taking on a sponsored challenge is incredibly empowering. Once you’ve committed, there’s no room for giving up—you keep going because people believe in you. The support we received—messages, prayers, donations—was overwhelming and beautiful. Every encouraging word made a difference. So far we’ve raised an amazing £1,872!
To everyone who sponsored me, prayed for me, or sent a kind message: thank you. You kept me going, putting one foot in front of the other, and the sense of accomplishment when we crossed the finish line was the best feeling ever!
If you’re thinking of doing a sponsored event for Comfort International, I urge you to step outside your comfort zone and take on a challenge— however big or small. The reward, both personal and for the cause, is immeasurable. You won’t regret it.